Albany music lover to open Noise Annoys Record Shop Saturday

Christopher Lawrence, owner of Noise Annoys Record Shop, prepares to open his business. Opening Saturday, it is located at 114c Quail Street in Albany.
Mike McMahon - The Record

ALBANY >> The Capital City will be hearing some new noise this weekend, as a rock record shop opens its doors for business.

Noise Annoys Record Shop, opening May 3, is located at 114c Quail St. in Albany, just around the bend from Pauly’s Hotel.

First time business owner Christopher Lawrence is an Albany native with a love for music and an understanding of the business. He has been in the industry for years, not only working in record stores, but also operating his own music label, Loud Punk Records. Loud Punk is a locally-based label, nearly a decade old, with a mixture of artists from the region and around the world.

The new shop’s name, “Noise Annoys,” comes from a 1978 Buzzcocks song. Lawrence said the title is a good reminder of being told as a teenager to turn his music down.

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Instead, he’s made a living out of it. As a music lover and label owner, Lawrence has considered opening his own record shop for years.

The store will sell new and used vinyl records in the rock, punk, metal and reggae genres. Average new releases will cost between $11 and $20, but $1 records will also be available. New releases, reissues of old classics, and used vinyl will all be found in the Noise Annoys collection.

Lawrence currently has a few thousand records that he plans to put into the store, and its inventory is growing each day.

“I have pretty high ambitions for the amount of stuff I want to put in here,” Lawrence said.

Noise Annoys is growing its inventory from various distributors all over the country and by swapping stock, buying wholesale, and picking through other people’s collections.

Noise Annoys will also be buying records from patrons. Customers are welcome to bring in their albums, and Lawrence will take a look, offering either cash or store credit in exchange.

Lawrence will be the sole employee at Noise Annoys as the store gets its start. “I have pretty high ambitions for what I want to do with the place,” he said. A true DIY-er, Lawrence wants to do it himself first so he can accomplish what he has in mind. “It’s best for me to take it all on myself.”

“It goes back to the scene that I grew up in, the 90s DIY scene, where you learn quickly that the only way to get things done is to do it yourself, because nobody’s going to do it for you.”

Lawrence’s goal for the business is to fill a space twice the size of the Quail Street store. In time, he also hopes to merge his label with the record shop.

“I think everyone that comes through will be pretty pleased,” Lawrence said, and “It’s only going to keep growing and getting better.”

A grand opening with free giveaways will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 3, followed by a show at The Low Beat featuring The Epidemic, Scuzz and Wet Dreams. Admission is $6 or free with a receipt from Noise Annoys Record Shop.

Noise Annoys Record Shop will be open regularly from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.